Sheffield football prodigy shines in America on sports scholarship

Neve Renwick, aged19 and from Southey Green, started playing football when she was just five and dazzled coaches up and down the country, often before even meeting them.

She had to play in boys teams when she was younger and was a top striker for Sheffield Caribbean Sports Club, where she scored 28 goals in 20 matches. Manager Ash Walker described her as “unplayable”.

She soon had her pick of the local teams interested and was signed by Wakefield AFC the moment she turned 16, and became their top goal scorer for two years back to back.

She later entered the Sheffield Wednesday FC Community programme, where she played for their women’s U21s, all the while dreaming of playing in the states.

Last August, she made the brave decision to move to America to study exercise science and plays for the Golden Eagles on an all expenses paid scholarship at Tennessee Technological University.

Her mum, Karen Renwick said: “We’re just so proud of her. She’s done it all herself. She’s come so far from playing football at five as a little girl, to where she is now. It’s amazing.”

Now during her summer break, she is playing for Vermont Green FC, coached by US legend and ex-Manchester City midfielder Sam Mewis.

Their latest game held the highest attendance for a Vermont Green match in history and Neve’s first goal, described in a report, will “live forever” in the history books.

Along with her ever expanding football accolades, she’s also smashing her studies, and has won the university’s Freshman of the Year award. Neve will be in America for another three years while she completes her studies.

“She’s got her sights set really high. She’d eventually like to play for England,” said Karen, “but for now she says the only way she’ll come home is if Manchester City got in touch with her!”